Preservative vs. Preservativo: Read Food Labels in Portuguese
On a Portuguese food label, look for conservante rather than preservativo when you mean a preservative ingredient.
Real Life Portuguese · 4 min read · Updated October 15, 2026
The short answer
A food preservative is a conservante. The related verb conservar means to preserve or keep. This is the term to look for when reading an ingredient list or asking about food preparation.
Use conservante for a food preservative
Este produto tem algum conservante?
Does this product contain any preservatives?
A embalagem diz que deve ser conservado na geladeira.
The package says it should be kept in the refrigerator.
Understand the everyday meaning of preservativo
In Brazilian Portuguese, preservativo usually means a condom. It is not the normal word for an additive that keeps food fresh, so using it while asking about ingredients can lead to a surprising misunderstanding.
Quero conferir a lista de conservantes.
I want to check the list of preservatives.
A farmácia vende preservativos.
The pharmacy sells condoms.
Ask a clear question about ingredients
When checking a label, name the food and ask whether it contains conservantes. If you are concerned about an allergy or ingredient, ask the manufacturer or a qualified professional to confirm the label information.
Esse molho leva conservantes artificiais?
Does this sauce contain artificial preservatives?
Você pode me mostrar onde estão os ingredientes no rótulo?
Could you show me where the ingredients are on the label?
Put it into practice
Conservante is food preservative; preservativo commonly means a condom.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “Does this sauce contain artificial preservatives”?
Choose an answer to check yourself.
Keep practicing with the Real Life Portuguese app
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